This Blog was created by me and for me. I dont take suggestions
and I dont really care what you have to say in regards to content
or design of this Blog. As far as individual posts go, I would
love to hear your opinions in the comment section (especially
if your opinion is radically different then mine). I try to post
often, but sometimes a week will go by where I am to busy to post
anything.

~*Words*~

Friday, July 22, 2005

Ben Harper Rocks The Vic - 2005

"My choice is what I choose to do and if I'm causing no harm it shouldn't bother you,your choice is who you choose to do and if you're causin' no harm then you're alright with me"

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals 7/21/05 The Vic Theatre Chicago.When the Zooma Tour was announced, I was ecstatic. Happy to see Trey of course, but Ben Harper was the main act as far as I was concerned. I got my tickets and was all set to head down to Deer Creek. Unfortunately the show got cancelled. Less than two weeks later, Ben Harper announced that he would do a small venue tour Tom Freund. The Vic is beautiful theatre in the wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago. The theatre is only a 1400 capacity. After failing to get tickets through the pre-pre-sale, pre-sale, and on sale I got 3 tickets through E-Bay.

We saw Harper 3 times before. The first time was just him when he toured with String Cheese. The second time was also solo at Bonnaroo 2002. The third was with The Innocent Criminals when he toured with Jack Johnson. All great shows.

"Is this really living sometimes it's hard to tell Or is this a kind of gentler hellTurn out the lights And let me stare into your soul I was born and bled for you old"

Our friend who was supposed to come with us bailed as we were leaving for the show. we pull up in front of the Vic at 7:45 and found parking in front of the theatre. Anyone who knows where Belmont & Sheffield is can appreciate this small miracle. As we crossed the street to approach the theatre I asked the first person that I saw if he needed an extra ticket for $50. Without bargaining, or an acknowledgement of any kind, he gave me a $50. Sweet!

We got a great spot right in the 4th row of the balcony towards the center, just in time for Harper to come on. The sound was amazing and the setlist(below) was every fans dream setlist. It had intense trip jams, percussion solos, regular pop songs, solo acoustic, straight up pure gospel, and even a motown cover. My wife and I had another amazing post-Phish concert experience together.

"I'm leaving here on the morning trainAnd I will never see this world againI've felt pleasureAnd I have felt painAnd I know nowThat I can never be the same"- Ben Harper